Analysis of the role of the ecowas court in regional. Political and economic constraints to the ecowas regional. The paper attempts to motivate the need to consolidate regional integration and trade facilitation in west africa. Economic community of west african states nigeria is the first contributor of wealth creation in the region 75% of regional gdp, but does not feature in the top performing countries on regional integration. External influences on regional integration in west africa ecdpm. Eightyfour per cent of migration flows today take place in the region and hence contribute to regional integration and. Ecowas, afdb collaborate towards regional integration. This is instrumental to increase intra and interregional trade, leading to the economic wellbeing of the citizens of west africa.
Mohamed ibn chambas, president of the economic community of west african states ecowas commission, speaking on the role of ecowas in achieving the economic integration of west africa. Political economy of regional integration in africa. The strategy was developed under the overall guidance. It was established within the framework of the consciousness of the need to develop a regional platform for cooperation and development. The economic community of west african states was established in 1975 due to the leadership initiative of nigeria and togo as well as the cooperation of other heads of state and governments in the subregion. Political economy of regional integration in africa ecowas report. This book presents a number of key studies pertaining to the most pressing challenges of economic regional integration in west africa. It equally tries to justify the need for ecowas to take initiatives on issues relating to development and the need for development assistance in building capacity for mutually beneficial trade with the eu. The issues of monetary coordination, foreign exchange volatility, taxation, savings and macroeconomic convergence are investigated from a regional perspective. The aims of the community are to promote cooperationand integration, leading to the establishment ofan economic union in west africa in order to raise the. Reflexions on an agenda for regional integration and cooperation in west africa.
Uemoa continues to exist as a more integrated group, but it is entirely included in ecowas, so that west african regionalism is now much more. Vision 2020 economic community of west african statesecowas. The treaty of lagos, creating the economic community of west african states ecowas, represents the latest attempt in economic integration and regional development among west african states. Conceptual clarification of key terms this part of the paper seeks to clarify the following key concepts. An assessment of progress towards regional integration in west africa. Ecowas is the main regional economic community in west africa wherein the continental integration process, as advocated by the african union, should take shape. A case of the economic community of west african states ecowas. The economic community of west african states ecowas was formed in 1975 to pro mote economic cooperation and development in the subregion.
Regional integration in west africa proceedings of the international. However, the closer integration between ecowas and uemoa, which are in the process of. Abass bundu, ecowas and the future of regional integration in west africa, 24 p. The case of ecowas, an unpublished doctor of philosophy theses submitted to the faculty of arts. The atlas on regional integration in west africa is an ecowas swac oecd initiative aiming to increase understanding of regional integration dynamics in west africa. Ecowas embraces over 200 million people in all 15 states in west africa table 2, ten of whom have parallel allegi ances to other groupings, and unti l 1999 mauritani a. Women traders, ghana strategic approach watip supports the capacity development of the ecowas commission to facilitate regional economic integration. This study presents a political economy analysis of the economic community of west african states ecowas, focusing in particular on what drives and hampers this regional organisation in preventing and resolving conflicts in west africa, and in promoting a regional approach to agriculture and food security.
The region encompasses 15 nations of which one member is an island state. This paper analyzes the lessons learned from ecowass military intervention in liberia and sierra leone. This paper examines the history of regional integration in africa, what has motivated it, the different initiatives that african governments have pursued, the nature of the integration process, and the current challenges. Economic community of west african states 2 foreword the vision formulated by ecowas heads of state in 2007 to move the community from an ecowas of states to an ecowas of the people, was a timely intervention meant to engineer a paradigm. The members ofthe community, hereinafterreferred to as thememberstates, shall be the states that ratify this treaty. The economic community of west african states ecowas, founded in 1975, represents 15 west african member states. Analysis of the role of the ecowas court in regional integration in west africa as a case study, the ecowas typifies an absence of effective judicial frameworks to strengthen, or, at least, complement, the integration of markets in the schemes of regional integration in africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km 2 1,974,589 sq mi, and in 2015 had an estimated population of over 349 million. Democracy in the context of regional integration in west africa status, challenges and perspectives chatham house seminar london, united kingdom 07 june 2011 strengthening coordination for better cooperation and deeper integration eight annual ecowas development partners. The protocols launching ecowas were signed in lome, togo on 5 november 1976.
Member nations of the economic community of west african states ecowas temporarily set aside their differences and through military force, diplomatic pressure, and humanitarian assistance restored peace and stability to wartorn liberia. Economic community of west african states nigeria is the first contributor of wealth creation in the region 75% of regional gdp, but does not feature in. Its main goal is the promotion of the economic integration among its members. The accession of the kingdom of morocco to the economic. Apr 06, 2016 the economic community of west african states ecowas is ranked third in regional integration out of eight regional economic communities assessed by the africa regional integration index africas first effort to measure progress on regional integration. Pdf challenges and prospects for regional integration. Regional integration and nontariff measures in the economic. The economic community of west african states ecowas ecowas is the major regional economic unit of subsaharan western africa and the focus of this work. French an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the economic community of west african states since its inception may 2015 economic community of west african states sub regional office. During the 1990s, west africa was ravaged by conflicts that required ecowas to intervene by sending a regional military force, ecomog, into liberia and sierra leone. Regional integration remains the most viable and appropriate tool for achieving and accelerating sustainable development of the west african countries.
Regional integration and nontariff measures in the. The economic community of west african states, also known as ecowas, is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in west africa. This study presents an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the economic community of west african states ecowas since its inception in 1975. French an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the economic community of west african states since its inception may 2015 economic community of west african states subregional office. In july, 1993, a revised ecowas treaty designed to accelerate economic integration. Pdf ecowas, the economic community of western africa states, was set up in 1975 by 16 countries with the ultimate objective of forming an economic. It thereby hopes to facilitate the building of a regional space in west africa. Regional integration in western africa overseas development.
Progress towards regional integration in west africa united. Ecowas and regional integration in west africa wiley online. See jeanclaude gautron, the economic community of west africa, antecedents and prospects, french yearbook of international law, volume 21, 1975, p. Consequently, the ecowas authority of heads of state and government reaffirmed its commitment to improve the west africa integration process while enhancing its effectiveness. West african countries signed the treaty for an economic community of west african states treaty of lagos on 28 may 1975. This report does not aim at providing a systematic evaluation of the effects of regional integration in west africa, nor to recommend or even suggest courses of action for donor countries. Abass bundu 29 chapter 3 theoretical and strategic approaches.
Indeed, ecowas is one the five regional pillars of the african economic community aec. It had its roots in earlier attempts at a west african economic community in the 1960s and was spearheaded by yakuba gowon of nigeria and gnassigbe eyadema of togo. Make agriculture the lever of regional integration ecowap for. Project muse ecowas and regional peacekeeping integration. The role of ecowas in achieving the economic integration of. The integration of west african states into the economic community of west african states ecowas was largely influenced by the processes of integration in western europe, latin america, and elsewhere in africa. The africa regional integration index report launched recently in addis ababa, is the. The social dimension of regional integration in ecowas. Economic community of west african states wikipedia. The economic community of west african states ecowas. Regional economic integration in west africa diery seck. In july, 1993, a revised ecowas treaty designed to.
Migration in west africa is part of its history, everyday life, and culture. Preparation of the regional integration policy and strategy for 20142023 ripos was led by onri with inputs from a diverse group of experts in bank departments and externally. The formation of ecowas was seen as the beginning of a new era in the history of economic cooperation in west africa. Revisedtreaty economic community of west african states. Request pdf ecowas and regional integration in west africa. The economic community of west african states ecowas is ranked third in regional integration out of eight regional economic communities assessed by the africa regional integration index africas first effort to measure progress on regional integration. Intraregional migration and economic integration in west. Its overall aim was to promote cooperation and integration, with a view to establishing an economic and monetary union as a means of. The social dimension of regional integration in ecowas working paper no. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional grouping of sixteen west african countries founded on may 28, 1975, to promote cooperation and integration through the establishment of an economic union in west africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, foster relations among member. History and prospects for regional integration in africa. In july 1993, a revised ecowas treaty designed to accelerate economic integration and to increase political cooperation, was signed.
The protocols launching ecowas were signed in lome, togo on 5th november, 1976. Regional integration and nontariff measures in the economic community of west african states ecowas executive summary this report examines nontariff measures ntms from an economic and an institutional perspective in the context of the regional integration process in west africa driven simultaneously by ecowas and waemu. Ecowas constitutes a total landmass of 5,112,903 square miles and. Overall, although ecowas has adopted protocols and policies for sustained integration, regional integration has progressed slowly.
Finally, 15 west african countries signed the treaty for an economic community of west african states treaty of lagos on 28th may, 1975. Improving the perspective for regional trade and investment. Regional integration and cooperation in west africa. The economic community of west african states ecowas was created by the treaty of lagos in lagos, nigeria, on may, 28, 1975. It had its roots in earlier attempts at a west african economic community in the 1960s and was spearheaded by yakuba gowon of. Progress towards regional integration in west africa. Pdf regional integration in west africa researchgate. Leaders of fifteen nations signed the treaty and thereby established the largest single economic union in all of africa.
Its mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and conflict. Ecawa 2015 an assessment of progress towards regional integration in the ecowas 1 for west africa ecawanrec201503 original text. United nations economic commission for africa, ecowas at 40. Support for regional integration and cooperation in west africa by the netherlands fits well within its policy framework for aid, trade and investment and aligns with key dutch policy objectives to promote sustainable and inclusive economic development and to enhance. Real lavergne 1 part i strategic visions and prospects chapter 2 ecowas and the future of regional integration in west africa. In a technical meeting between the ecowas commission and the afdb on the 20112017 west africa regional integration strategy paper risp which began on 28th august 2018 in abuja, nigeria, the two organizations resolved to work closely while developing their upcoming regional integration strategies. The economic community of west african states ecowas is a regional organisation of 15 west african countries established on 28 may 1975. Leaders of fifteen nations signed the treaty and thereby established.
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